‘Locked In’ on Jesus – Summer Camps 2026
VicYouth
Published
'And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.'
Hebrews 12:1-2
VicYouth had an intense start to the year. Our Summer Camps program is always full of excitement and adventure, and 2026 was no different. We had to make the very difficult decision to cancel GAP Camp this year, due to the bushfires that broke out across Victoria in early January.
Earlier that day, during our staff prayer walk around the camp, we prayed specifically for God to work despite the extreme weather. Little did we know how literal that prayer would turn out to be. With conditions changing dramatically in a short time. We had only a short time to assess the situation and decide our response; thankfully, our prayers were answered.
Howqua provided meals for our campers, cabin leaders helped the kids pack their freshly unpacked bags, auxiliary staff kept the kids entertained while our admin team coordinated transport, and of course, our bus drivers planned safe routes for the long trip back to Melbourne! Within just a few hours of the decision being made, every single one of our GAP Campers and staff had arrived home safely.
Throughout it all, we kept our eyes on Jesus, trusting that God was guiding and protecting the situation.
Junior Camp started with a flurry when the decision was made to proceed with the event, much to our campers' relief! Due to road closures, our campers arrived later than expected. This meant that when they arrived at Howqua by the busload, they were eager and ready to be involved in everything Summer Camps has to offer.
For some, it was their first time ever experiencing camp life. Being sorted into cabin groups, having meals together and meeting new people can sometimes be intimidating. But our cabin counsellors did an incredible job of making everyone comfortable, and by the time we were ready for worship, everyone was fed, unpacked and settled into their cabins.
The following days were spent rotating around activities. Water sports, Horse Riding, Flying Fox and Cooking, just to name a few. These kept the kids busy and entertained, but they still brought an amazing energy to evening worship. Pastor Josh Contaoi, our speaker for Junior Camp, presented an amazing message around the theme of being ‘locked in’ to Jesus.
Another highlight from the camp was the commitment night. Each camper had an opportunity to respond to the messages they had heard throughout the week, and ‘lock in’ to Jesus. Over 70 campers requested to be baptised at camp, and 60 requested to become involved in Bible studies! God truly blessed us at Junior Camp, and it was well worth running for the sake of the campers whose lives were changed as a result.
Teen Camp has a very unique energy, and it was great to see everyone ready and raring to go right from their arrival.
This year, in addition to activities chosen by the campers, we also ran a team-building obstacle course and puzzle challenge. Built off Howqua’s ‘Survivor’ activity, where campers help each other get through an obstacle course and work as a team to complete a challenge. We added to the difficulty by having the campers find pieces of a puzzle and unlock a treasure chest belonging to Desmond Doss! Campers also enjoyed using the water slide at night, which was surprisingly warm and serene with the glow of fairy lights. It was a great atmosphere to witness and enjoy.
During the 'Champions Dinner' banquet night, everyone got to embody their favourite athlete, emphasising how they are focused on running the race set before them. At the end of the festivities, our campers were reminded of how they are already champions in God's eyes.
Our speaker, Kaylee Smith, challenged us throughout the week to apply our theme of ‘locking in’ to Jesus in our own lives. Regardless of our situation. This message really resonated with our young people, with over 70 requesting baptism, bible studies, or both!
We’re most thankful to God for keeping everyone at Teen Camp safe. Despite continued road closures and bushfires, camp was able to go ahead safely. It made a real difference to those who attended!
For more photos and videos from Summer Camp, check out VicYouth’s social media pages – Facebook: VicYouth Australia; Instagram: @vicyouthaustralia
